What is it about mountain biking and documentaries that make them such a good fit? Perhaps it’s because mountain biking is so real to us and we can spot mountain bike fakers from a mile away (can you imagine Tom Hanks playing a downhill racer in a major motion picture?). Or perhaps it’s because mountain bikers feel misunderstood by the outside world. Whatever it is, the documentary film seems to be the media of choice for describing the mountain bike world and I thought I’d share an incomplete list of some recent MTB documentary films. Let me know if I’ve left any off this list.
24 Solo: I know, I know, I keep talking about this film but it really tells a great story. 24 Solo really does a good job personalizing mountain biking while at the same time the film remains accessible to folks outside the sport.
Off Road to Athens: From the director of 24 Solo, Off Road to Athens was actually produced first. This is a good story as well, though it lacks some of the emotion seen in other MTB documentaries.
Klunkerz: I haven’t seen this one but from what I understand this film offers a historical perspective on mountain biking.
Remember2Breathe: I read about this film in the Daily Record but I really don’t know much about it. Apparently it was done by a high school student and offers a glimpse into the MTB racing scene.
The Way Bobby Sees It: Poison Oak Productions’ latest documentary follows Bobby McMullen and his quest to race in the Downieville Downhill. This is at least the second MTB documentary for Poison Oak Productions; the first, Singletrack MINDS, was a short film about the conflict between trail users in Marin County, CA.
Of course other MTB films like the Collective series are essentially documentaries since they follow real riders doing real stunts but they often lack a story line and in-depth interviews like the films mentioned above. Which MTB film is your favorite?
1 Comments
Jul 9, 2008
If you haven't heard, the film looks at the off-road scene in the years 1968-1983 in the Bay Area. I chased historic footage and photos of the guys from as far away as Brazil. I've got footage of the guys road-racing on Mt. Tam in the early '70s, racing cyclo-cross in the mid-'70s, and bombing off-road starting in 1975. It's got all the usual suspects (Breeze, Fisher, Ritchey, et al), and some more 'obscure' folks who influenced these pioneers.
From the outset I really tried to make a film that could reach a wider audience than just the hard-core cyclists cyclists out there. The subjects of the film are athletes, visionaries and entrepreneurs who created a multi-billion dollar industry and an Olympic event in just the last 25 years. That's pretty amazing to contemplate, even if you don't ride a bike.
I wanted to take a historical approach to the material, but keep it fun with a lot of humor. To me, that's what cycling is...FUN! And with $5.00 gallons of gas out there, we can expect to see a lot more people having fun on the roads and out on the trails.
It's tough to break through with a documentary on any subject, but after doing a massive festival tour, the mainstream press is starting to pick up on it. The film has screened in the festival circuit all over the world and is now available on DVD in nearly 100 countries through the VAS, TCG, and the QBP catalogs. You can find out more about the film at www.klunkerz.com. Here's a few recent blurbs from the press...
USA TODAY
“Savage’s funny and often poignant film looks at how a bunch of semi-stoned hippies in Northern California developed a unique style of off-road bike riding through collaboration and competition…KLUNKERZ is worth checking out, even if you’re not a bike nut,â€
MOVIEMAKER MAGAZINE
“Documentaries of this nature always appeal to a very niche audience, but KLUNKERZ is just as enjoyable for those of us who aren’t cyclists.â€
STUFF MAGAZINE
“KLUNKERZ looks at the origins of the sport and the Californians who went big on street bikes back at the start of it all, way back in the hair-and-flair ‘70s.â€
MOVIE MAGAZINE INTERNATIONAL
“KLUNKERZ is a small, but important, film that traces the history of modern day mountain biking.â€
THE MIAMI HERALD
“KLUNKERZ is definitive-and destined for classic status…Savage succeeds in making the story appealing to movie buffs and bike geeks alike.â€
BIKE MAGAZINE
“KLUNKERZ is the most compelling bike film made in quite some time.â€
MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION
“Maybe the most remarkable thing about the film is you don’t have to be a mountain biker to be thoroughly entertained.â€
VELONEWS
“It was a period of camaraderie and innovation that has been loving and masterfully documented by Billy Savage in his film KLUNKERZ.â€
RIDE MAGAZINE SOUTH AFRICA
“Combine the hedonistic philosophy of the times with the sort of expendable income and spare time for recreation undreamt of by earlier generations, and it becomes a no-brainer… William Savage perfectly captures this era.â€
Please continue to support INDEPENDENT filmmaking. Go to screenings and buy DVDs. And remember, burning DVDs isn't just bad Karma, it's against the law.
Ride on!
Billy Savage
writer/producer/director
KLUNKERZ
www.klunkerz.com